Eaves flashing for gutterprotecting devices



Oct. 14, 1952 c. H. scHRAEDr-:R

EAVES FLASHING FOR GUTTR-PROTECTING DEVICES Filed Jan. l0, 1949 PatentedOct. 14, 1952 UNIrEofs'rATEs PATENT OFFICE KHEAV'ES FLASHING FOR GUTTER-PROTECTING DEVICES oharlesn. schraeaer, Detroit, Mich. ApplicationJanuary 10, 1949, Serial No. 70,117

(Cl. S-30) f 6 Claims.

This invention relates to building structures, and in particular togutter screens and their mountings. f

One object of this invention is to provide a gutter-protecting devicehaving a screen and an eaves flashing for holding fthe screen which willnot only prevent leaves or other foreign matter from falling into thegutter or eaves trough but will also prevent fwater from running back ofthe gutter at the eaves and thereby prevent streaking of the backboardor facia.

Another object is to provide a gutter protecting device having a screenand eaves flashing of the foregoing character wherein a screen isremovably mounted in-the flash-ing so that the gutter may be quickly andeasily cleaned.

Another object isto provide a gutter protecting device having a Vscreenand eaves flashing of the foregoing character wherein the flashing isattached to the eaves beneath the lowermost row of shingles-orlowermostfportion of roofing without the need for'special tools. l

In the drawings, 1

Figure 1 is a vfragmentary perspective view of the lower edge of avroof'and eaves trough or gutter, showing the improved eaves 'flashingand gutter screen of 'the present invention; and

Figure 2'is a perspective view of a portion of the eaves'ashing usedwith the gutter screen of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawingsin detail, Figures 1 and 2 show thegutter-protecting device, generally designated IIJ, consisting generallyof an eavesiiashing II and gutter screen I2 for protecting aneavestroughor gutter I3 from the influx of foreign matter, such as leaves,twigs or the like. The device I0 is attached to a roof I4 having raftersI5 to which the roof boards or eaves I6 are nailed in' the usual way,and to which the facia board or backboard I1 is attached. Secured to thelower portion of the facia board I1 are the horizontal and verticaleaves boards I8 and I3 respectively. Secured to the roof boards I6 is alayer of roofing paper 20 over which shingles 2| are laid in the usualway. Secured to the facia board I1 is the rear wall 22 of a gutter oreaves trough 23 having a bottom wall 24 and front wall 25, the latterbeing formed with an inwardly-extending flange 2B having a longitudinaledge 21. The foregoing construction, except for the gutter-projectingdevice I0, is conventional construction.

The eaves ashing II of the gutter-protecting device I0 is formed ofsheet metal, such as copper, galvanized iron or the like (Figure 2) andhas a top portion or supporting portion 30 of plate-like form adapted tobe inserted beneath the lowermost row of'shingles 2| and a lower edge ofthe roofing paper (Figure 1). EX- tending downward from the top portion30 is a connecting portion 3| approximately at right angles to theportion 30 and of approximately the thickness of the roof boards I6 andadapted to engage the lower edge 32 thereof. Bent inwardly from theconnecting portion 3| is the upper part 33 of a screen-holding portion34 of U-shaped cross-section, the lower portion 35 of which extendsforward and is bent downward as at 36 to facilitate the insertion of thescreen I2. The eaves flashing is preferably made in elongated sectionsof suitable length convenient for manufacture and handling.

The gutter screen I2 is also made in elongated sections from wire clothor the like and has its rearward edge portion 40 inserted in the groove31 formed between the upper and lower portions 33 and 35 of thescreen-holding portion 34. The forward edge portion 4I of the screen I2is bent back upon itself as at 42 so as to provide a portion resting onthe liange 2B of the eaves trough or gutter I3. The extreme forward edgeportion 43 of the screen I2 is bent downward from. the portion 42 so asto form an abutment adapted to engage the edge 21 of the flange 2B toprevent the rearward portion 40 of the screen I2 from slipping out ofthe groove 21 in the screen-holding portion 34.

In the installation of the invention, the base portion or supportingportion 30 of the flashing |I is placed against the top surface of theroof boards I6 near the lowermost edge 32, and '1s pushed upward beneaththe roofing paper layer 20 and lower row of shingles 2| until itsconnecting portion 3| comes to rest against the edge 32 of the lowermostboard I6. This causes the screen-holding portion 34 to lie beneath thelower edge portion of the lowermost board I6 with its groove 31 facingdownward toward the edge 21 of the gutter flange 26. The flashing II isthen nailed or otherwise secured in position against the board I6. Theworkman then grasps a length of the screen I2 and. while lifting thebent portions 43 and 42 above the flange 2B, he pushes the rearward edgeportion 40 of the screen I2 into the groove 31, springing the screen I2slightly in order to do this. When he releases the forward edge of thescreen I2. the abutment portion 43 drops downward behind the edge 21 ofthe flange 26 and the reversely bent portion 42 comes to rest upon theflange 26, as shown in Figure 1. yThe eaves trough or gutter I3 is nowprotected from being clogged by leaves, twigs or the like, and otherobjects such as baseballs, or childrens toys are prevented from beinglost in the eaves trough. The screen I2 also prevents birds frombuilding their nests in the eaves trough I3. Furthermore, thescreen-holding portion 34, by reason of its bent construction, preventswater from running back of the gutter at the eaves, and thereby preventsstreaking of the facia board I 'I from this cause. It also preventswater from running down between the facia board I1 and the rearward wall22 of the gutter I3, and thus eliminates rusting away of the gutter I3at this location, or of the gutter brackets or fasteners.

If any leaves, twigs or other foreign matter accumulates on top of thescreem I2, the sections of the screen may be removed for cleaning merelyby reversing the foregoing procedure of installing it. This consists ingraspingv the forward edge of the screen and lifting upward upon it,until the downwardly bent abutment portion l43 clears the edge 21 of theflange 2S, whereupon the screen may be pulled forward over the flange 26until its rearward edge portion 40 is completely withdrawn from thegroove 3'! of the flashing I I. The screen may then be cleaned. andlikewise the gutter i3, lif any fine particles have fallen through thescreen into the gutter.

The screen I2 may then be replaced in the same manner in which it wasoriginally installed.

It will be seen from Figure l that the groove 3'! of the flashing II isinclinedslightly downward in a direction below the flange 26 of thegutter I3. The purpose of this Vconstruction is to bend the screen I2slightly so that pressure is exerted by its forward edge portiondownward against the flange 2G. `This holds the screen I2 securely inposition at-all times but permitsi easy withdrawal thereof when desired.

What I claim is:

l. A gutter-protecting device for attachment to a roof eave and gutterof a' building, said gutter protecting device comprising a flashing innto a roof eave and gutter of a building, said gutter protecting devicecomprising a flashing including an elongated member of sheet materialhaving a plate-like upper supporting portion fitting against the eave,an-intermediate portion extending downward from said upper portion. pastthe edge of the eave, and a lower portion connected to said intermediateportion and hiavinga generally-horizontal screen-receiving recesstherein; and an elongated reticulated gutter screen having` .a widthsuicient to cover the gutter, said screen having its forward edgeportion engageable with the forward edge portion of the gutter and itsrearward edge portion secured in said recess.

3. A gutter-protecting device for attachment to a roof eave and gutterof a building, said gutter protecting device comprising a ashingincluding an elongated member of sheet vmaterial having a plate-likeupper supporting portion fitting against the eave, an intermediateportion extendingv downward from said upper portion past the edge of theeave, and a lower portion extending rearwardly from said intermediateportion and having a generally-horizontal forwardly-directedscreen-receiving recess therein; and an elongated reticulated gutterscreen having a width suicient to cover the gutter, said screen havingits forward edge portion engageable with the forward edge portion of thegutter and its rearward edge portion secured in said recess.

4. A gutter-protecting device for attachment to a roof eave and gutterof a building, said gutter protecting device comprising a flashingincluding an elongated member of sheet material having a plate-likeupper supporting portion fitting against the eave, an intermediateportion extending downward from said upper portion past the edge of theeave, and a lower portion extending rearwardly from said intermediateportion, said lower portion beingtrough-shaped With agenerallyhorizontal forwardly-extending opening therein; and anelongated reticulated gutter screen having a width sufficient to coverthe gutter, said screen having its forward edge portion engageable withthe forward edge portion of the gutter and its rearward edge portionsecured in said opening.

5. A gutter-protecting device for attachment to a roof eave and gutterof a building, said gutter protecting device comprising a ashingincluding an elongated member of sheet material having a plate-likeupper supporting portion fitting against the eave, an intermediateportion extending downward from said upper portion past the edge of theeave, and a lower portion having a top wall extending rearwardly fromsaid intermediate portion and a bottom wall extending forwardly from therearward edge of said top wall to form a generally-horizontalscreen-receiving trough; and an elongated reticulated gutter screenhaving a width sufficient to cover the gutter, said screen having itsforward edge portion engageable with the forward edge portion cf thegutter and its rearward edge portion secured in said trough.

6. A gutter-protecting device for attachment to a roof eave and gutterof a building, said gutter protecting device comprising a flashingincluding an elongated member of sheet material having a plate-likeupper supporting portion fitting against the eave, an intermediateportion extending downward from said upper portion past the edge of theeave, and a lower portion having a top wall extending rearwardly fromsaid intermediate portion and a bottom wall extending forwardly from therearward edge of said top wall to form a generally-horizontalscreen-receiving trough, said bottom wall having a downwardly-directedforward edge portion to facilitate insertion of said screen; and anelongated reticulated gutter screen having a width sufficient to coverthe gutter, said screen having its forward edge portion engageable withthe forward edge portion of the gutter and its rearward edge portionsecured in said trough.

CHARLES H. SCHRAEDER..

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,423,923 Audino July 15, 1947

